EP0606261B1 - Child-resistant package having preloaded locking mechanism - Google Patents

Child-resistant package having preloaded locking mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0606261B1
EP0606261B1 EP92919246A EP92919246A EP0606261B1 EP 0606261 B1 EP0606261 B1 EP 0606261B1 EP 92919246 A EP92919246 A EP 92919246A EP 92919246 A EP92919246 A EP 92919246A EP 0606261 B1 EP0606261 B1 EP 0606261B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closure
pushtab
collar
skirt
pushtabs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92919246A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0606261A1 (en
Inventor
Peter Worthington Hamilton
Geneva Gail Otten
Robert Stanley Dirksing
Reuben Earl Oder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Publication of EP0606261A1 publication Critical patent/EP0606261A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0606261B1 publication Critical patent/EP0606261B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
    • B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
    • B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
    • B65D50/045—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring
    • B65D50/046—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring and such deformation causes the disengagement of locking means, e.g. the release of a pawl-like element from a tooth or abutment, to allow removal of the closure by simultaneous rotation

Definitions

  • the present invention has relation to an improved package for storing and dispensing materials which can be harmful, particularly if improperly ingested.
  • Such materials may be in solid, tablet, granular, powdered, semi-solid, paste or liquid form.
  • the present invention has relation to a package for storing and dispensing medicaments, such as analgesic tablets or the like.
  • the present invention has further relation to such a package which is resistant to opening by the majority of children coming in contact with it, yet which can be opened without undue difficulty by adults whose manual dexterity may, at least to a degree, be impaired.
  • the present invention has further relation to such a package which can be inexpensively manufactured to facilitate disposal thereof once the contents have been completely dispensed from the package.
  • Child resistant packaging is known for being both a curse and a curse. It is a great concept for preventing children from opening potentially dangerous materials such as medications, but for adults, especially the elderly, such packaging can be a nuisance.
  • the present invention comprises a package for dispensing potentially dangerous materials, such as medicaments, e.g., analgesic tablets or the like.
  • the package preferably comprises a bottle, a collar which snap fits onto the uppermost portion of the bottle and a screw-on closure, as generally disclosed in the aforementioned commonly assigned U.S. Patent 4,948,002 to Thornock et al. or a child-resistant attachment of the type generally disclosed in co-pending U.S. Application Serial No. 826,747 filed in the names of Peter W. Hamilton, Robert S. Dirksing and Reuben E.
  • Child-resistant attachments of the type disclosed in co-pending U.S. Application Serial No. 826,747 may be formed separately from the bottle or container used to house the medicament or other potentially hazardous material and thereafter secured to the container or they may be integrally formed with the container. Regardless of its exact configuration and how it is formed, the collar preferably includes a pair of spring-like pushtabs which include vertical extensions at their uppermost ends.
  • the closure has a skirt which includes a pair of interlocking teeth, sometimes referred to as pawls, which resist unscrewing of the closure once the closure has been completely applied to the bottle unless the opposed pushtabs on the collar are depressed so as to disengage their vertical extensions from the interlocking teeth on the innermost surface of the closure skirt.
  • pawls interlocking teeth
  • the portion of the collar containing the spring-like pushtabs to which the vertical extensions are secured is initially produced so that in their undeformed condition, the vertical extensions on the spring-like pushtabs are further apart than the corresponding innermost surfaces of the closure skirt when the closure is fully applied to the package or the attachment.
  • application of the closure to the package causes at least a degree of resilient deformation of the spring-like pushtabs and/or the vertical extensions attached thereto so that the vertical extensions are preloaded against the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the package or attachment is in its child resistant condition.
  • preloading of the vertical extensions of the spring-like pushtabs against the innermost surfaces of the closure skirt insures positive locking with the interlocking teeth on the interior of the closure skirt even in situations where manufacturing tolerances drift beyond specified limits, i.e., the vertical extensions of the spring-like pushtabs must always undergo enough inward movement to clear the interlocking teeth on the interior of the closure skirt in order to permit unscrewing of the closure. If no preloading of the spring-like pushtabs is present, drifts in manufacturing tolerance can reduce the required amount of travel for the vertical extensions of the pushtabs and thereby permit unscrewing of the closure with less depression of the spring-like pushtabs.
  • Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an improved child resistant package 100 of the present invention.
  • the basic package 100 is of the type generally disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent 4,948,002 issued to Thornock et al. on August 14, 1990.
  • the present disclosure in the context of a Thornock et al. type package is intended to be a non-limiting illustrative example.
  • Package 100 is particularly well suited for housing medicaments.
  • Package 100 is particularly well suited for housing medicaments, such as analgesic tablets 20.
  • advantageous use of packages of the present invention is in no way limited to the field of medicaments or even to tablets.
  • Packages of the present invention may be used for storing and dispensing nearly any potentially dangerous material whether in solid, tablet, granular, powdered, semi-solid, paste or liquid form.
  • the accompanying description in the context of a medicament tablet package is merely to facilitate a complete understanding of particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a bottle 12, which is preferably made of polyethylene, the most common and inexpensive analgesic bottle material.
  • the bottle 12 is preferably injection blow molded with a wall thickness in the range of about 0.015 inches to about 0.050 inches.
  • the particular bottle 12 shown in Figure 1 has a base 14 with a substantially constant elliptical cross-section. In a particularly preferred embodiment the ratio of ellipse minor dimension to major dimension is approximately 0.7.
  • the upper shoulder portion 16 of the bottle 12 is preferably an elliptical cone in shape.
  • the cone included angles of upper shoulder portion 16 preferably range between coout 36° and about 70°, as measured about the periphery of the bottle 12.
  • the base 14 exhibits a major axis of about 44.5 mm (about 1.75 inches), a minor axis of about 31.8 mm (about 1.25 inches) and an overall height of about 28.4 mm (about 1.12 inches).
  • the altitude of the truncated cone of shoulder portion 16 is about 19.1 mm (about 0.75 inches) in this exemplary embodiment.
  • shoulder portion 16 of bottle 12 is a cylindrical finish portion 18, which is, in the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, about 12.7 mm (about 0.5 inches) in height.
  • the three portions, base portion 14, shoulder portion 16, and finish portion 18 of bottle 12 are preferably concentrically aligned on a common vertical axis.
  • the internal diameter of finish 18 is a function of the diameter (or other major dimension if non-round) of tablet 20 and the fill rate of tablets.
  • the inside diameter of finish 18 should be sufficiently large that bridging of tablets 20, entering the finish 18 from a tapered filling chute, is minimized.
  • base portion 14 typically is in the range of about 38.1 mm to about 63.5 mm (about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches).
  • the height of base portion 14 is selected to provide whatever overflow volume is desired in the package 100.
  • any suitable means e.g., a combination of lugs and screw threads, can be employed to rotatably and releasably secure closure 52 to the finish portion 18 of bottle 12, complementary threads are particularly preferred.
  • the threads 22 on finish 18 are preferably double lead threads, each with a lead angle which provides a thread pitch of about 2.54 mm to about 3.30 mm (about 0.1 inches to about 0.13 inches) per half revolution.
  • Indented recess 24 located at the base of shoulder portion 16 of bottle 12 and outwardly projecting ring 26 located at the uppermost end of shoulder portion 16 of bottle 12 are intended to provide snap-fit attachment of collar 32, also shown in Figure 1.
  • anti-rotation lugs 28 extending from shoulder portion 16 of bottle 12, just below outwardly projecting ring 26, are intended to interlock with collar 32 in order to prevent rotation of collar 32 relative to bottle 12 when removal torque is applied to the closure 52.
  • Collar 32 is preferably an injection molded part having an outside shape of a truncated cone intersecting an elliptical cylinder of the same shape as base 14 of bottle 12.
  • Collar 32 is preferably made of a polymer which has an adequate bending modulus to provide a pair of resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs 34.
  • spring-like pushtabs 34 are molded so that they are cantilevered at their base in their at rest position in the opposing conical sides of collar 32.
  • they Preferably they have a thickness substantially equal to that of the walls of collar 32, e.g., between about 1.016 mm and about 1.524 mm (about 0.040 inches and about 0.060 inches).
  • each spring-like pushtab 34 has a vertical extension 36 which projects above the top edge of collar 32.
  • the pushtab vertical extensions 36 interlock with teeth 62 on the innermost surface of the outer skirt 60 of closure 52 when the closure 52 is fully threaded onto the finish portion 18 of bottle 12.
  • the spring-like pushtabs 34 are preferably molded so that in their undeformed condition their vertical extensions 36 which project above the top edge of collar 32 exhibit a dimension X1, as measured across their outermost surfaces, which is slightly greater than the corresponding internal dimension X2, which corresponds to the points of contact between the vertical extensions 36 and the opposing innermost surfaces of the closure skirt 60 immediately adjacent the closure teeth 62 when the closure 52 is fully assembled onto the package.
  • dimension X1 being slightly larger than dimension X2
  • application of the closure to the package causes a degree of deformation of the spring-like pushtabs 34 and/or the vertical extensions 36 attached thereto once the teeth 62 on closure skirt 60 pass by, thereby preloading the outermost surfaces of the vertical extensions 36 against the corresponding innermost surfaces of skirt 60 whenever the closure is in its fully engaged position.
  • This is represented by the outwardly directed forces F1, as shown in the cross-section of Figure 4.
  • X1 and X2 may be relatively small, e.g., on the order of about 0.025 mm and about 1.27 mm (about 0.001 inches and about 0.050 inches), it has unexpectedly been learned that the improved packages of the present invention employing preloaded spring-like pushtabs 34 significantly increase the child resistance of the package without at the same time causing significantly increased difficulty of opening of the package by adults having impaired manual dexterity.
  • the amount of preloading force exerted by the vertical extensions 36 against the corresponding innermost surfaces of the closure skirt 60 need not be extremely high.
  • forces in the range of between about 0.044 N and about 8.896 N (about 0.01 pounds and about 2.00 pounds), as measured by pressing against the uppermost end of one of the opposing spring-like pushtabs 34 have been found to function reasonably well in accomplishing the objectives of the present invention.
  • a preloading force F1 of about 1.112 N (about 0.25 pounds), as measured by pressing against the uppermost ends of the opposing spring-like pushtabs 34, has been found to function extremely well both in terms of improving child resistance and avoiding any significant increase in difficulty when the package is to be opened by adults having at least a degree of impairment to their manual dexterity.
  • improved packages of the present invention employing preloaded spring-like pushtabs 34 enhance the audible "click" which sounds whenever the teeth 62 on closure member 52 are advanced past the vertical extensions 36 on spring-like pushtabs 34. This is due to the fact that the distance between the vertical extensions 36 on resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs 34 is minimized just prior to their clearing teeth 62 on closure skirt 60. Hence, resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs 34 are deformed to their maximum extent just prior to teeth 62 clearing the edges of vertical extensions 36.
  • both pushtabs 34 In order to unscrew closure 52 from finish portion 18 once the closure has been fully assembled onto the finish portion 18 of bottle 12, both pushtabs 34 must be depressed such that the pushtab vertical extensions 36 disengage the closure teeth 62 located on the innermost surface of closure skirt 60.
  • the squeezing force required to depress pushtabs 34 is preferably great enough to be difficult for a child, yet low enough that people using the medication, such as arthritics, can readily depress the opposing pushtabs 34 while concurrently applying an unscrewing force to the closure 52.
  • the preferred squeezing force for the pushtabs is believed to be in the range of about 2.224 N and about 22.24 N (about 0.5 pounds and about 5 pounds).
  • pushtabs 34 are preferably substantially flush with the outermost surface of collar 32 when closure 52 has been fully assembled onto the package so that simply grasping the collar about its entire periphery is unlikely to permit vertical extensions 36 of pushtabs 34 from becoming inadvertently disengaged from closure teeth 62. Rather, a conscious decision to squeeze the opposing pushtabs must be made by the user to initiate the opening process. This minimizes the chance that a child will be able to remove closure 52 simply by squeezing the entire periphery of collar 32 in his or her hand while trying to unscrew closure 52.
  • the thickness and length of spring-like pushtabs 34 should be such that bending stresses resulting either from the initial preloading or from the deflection necessary to disengage pushtab vertical extensions 36 from closure teeth 62 remain below the yield strength of the polymer comprising collar 32.
  • Materials such as polypropylene have bending modulii and yield strengths which normally can provide squeeze forces on the lower end of the aforementioned force range, while materials such as acrilonitrile-butadiene-styrene (commonly referred to as "ABS”) can be used to provide squeeze forces on the upper end of the aforementioned force range.
  • each pushtab extension 36 interlocks with one of the closure teeth 62 to prevent the closure 52 from being unscrewed unless both of the spring-like pushtabs 34 are depressed.
  • These two surfaces contact in such a way that torque applied in a direction to unscrew closure 52 (direction of arrow 3) will cause pushtab extensions 36 to be pulled outward against the inner surface of skirt 60 unless the pushtabs 34 have been depressed prior to applying the unscrewing torque.
  • This feature enhances the child resistance of package 100, since it prevents high closure removal torque alone from causing pushtab extensions 36 to become disengaged from closure teeth 62.
  • collar 32 has an inwardly projecting ring 38 on its lowermost inner surface and an inwardly projecting ring 40 on its uppermost inner surface.
  • Inwardly projecting ring 40 further includes an inwardly projecting lip 41 on its lowermost surface.
  • Ring 38 of collar 32 snap-fits into recess 24 of bottle 12 and ring 40 with inwardly projecting lip 41 snaps over outwardly projecting ring 26 of bottle 12, as generally shown in Figures 2 and 3.
  • a recess 42 on opposing sides of ring 40 of collar 32 mates with anti-rotation lugs 28 on shoulder portion 16 of bottle 12 to prevent rotation of collar 32 on bottle 12, as discussed earlier, once the collar has been snapped into place on bottle 12.
  • Closure 52 shown in Figure 1 preferably has an outer skirt 60 which has the same outside diameter as the top of the truncated cone surface of collar 32.
  • the two teeth 62 projecting from the inside of skirt 60 are preferably 180° from each other.
  • the teeth 62 preferably have gentle ramps that cam the vertical extensions 36 of the spring-like pushtabs 34 inward when the closure 52 is being screwed onto the finish portion 18 of bottle 12, but sharp edges that interlock with the pushtab vertical extensions 36 once the closure 52 has been fully assembled onto the bottle 12 and is thereafter twisted in the direction of removal.
  • Outer skirt 60 of closure 52 preferably has its inner bottom edge beveled, as shown in Figure 2, to act as a lead-in when skirt 60 first contacts the top of the vertical extensions 36 of spring-like pushtabs 34 during closure installation.
  • a second skirt 54 of closure 52, inside of skirt 60, has internal threads 56 which are complementary to external threads 22 on the finish portion 18 of bottle 12.
  • the double skirted closure design permits the use of a relatively wide, annular, inwardly projecting ring 40 at the top of collar 32.
  • This relatively wide annular ring 40 provides rigidity to collar 32 such that it can be readily snap-fit onto bottle 12.
  • the closure 52 is preferably made of polypropylene for good frictional properties between the internal closure threads 56 and the preferred polyethylene exterior threads 22 on finish portion 18 of bottle 12.
  • Inside closure 52 there is preferably provided a cardboard or other suitable liner 58, which seals against the top of the finish portion 18 of bottle 12 when the closure 52 is installed on the bottle. Because of the variation in thickness and compressibility of liner 58, the location of teeth 62 relative to the start of internal closure threads 56 is preferably such that teeth 62 pass beyond the vertical extensions 36 of spring-like pushtabs 34 somewhat when closure 52 is fully assembled onto the bottle. This minimizes the need for tight tolerances on mating parts.
  • Figures 2 and 3 are vertical cross-sectional views of the bottle 12, collar 32, and closure 52 in their fully assembled condition.
  • the cross-section of Figure 3 is taken at 90° to the cross-section of Figure 2 to better show anti-rotation lugs 28.
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along section line IV-IV of Figure 2, which better shows how the teeth 62 on skirt 60 of closure 52 interlock with the vertical extensions 36 of spring-like pushtabs 34 once the closure has been fully installed on the bottle.
  • resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs 34 are simply molded so that their uppermost ends project slightly beyond the outermost surface of shroud 32 prior to application of the closure 52 to the package.
  • Application of the closure 52 to the package causes a degree of resilient deformation of the spring-like pushtabs 34 so that in the assembled condition of the package, the uppermost ends of spring-like pushtabs 34 are substantially flush with the outermost surfaces of shroud 32.
  • the auxiliary support members used to impart in-use spring-like resistance to the innermost surface of the pushtabs may be outwardly extended to a degree so as to produce a slight initial outward orientation of the pushtabs in relation to the surrounding shroud prior to application of the closure to the package.
  • the present invention may also, if desired, be practiced to great advantage with child-resistant attachments of the type generally disclosed in co-pending commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 826,747 filed in the names of Peter W. Hamilton, Robert S. Dirksing and Reuben E. Oder on January 28, 1992 and entitled ADULT FRIENDLY CHILD-RESISTANT ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS USED TO STORE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MATERIALS.
  • Child-resistant attachments of the type disclosed in co-pending U.S. Application Serial No. 826,747 may be formed separately from the bottle or container used to house the medicament or other potentially hazardous material and thereafter secured to the bottle or container or they may be integrally formed with the bottle or container.
  • Figure 6 shows a side view of a preferred child resistant attachment 2100 of the type generally disclosed in co-pending commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 826,747, said attachment further embodying the present invention.
  • Attachment 2100 is particularly well suited for use in conjunction with typical cylindrical pharmaceutical bottles and vials to dispense pharmaceutical products, such as tablets.
  • the present invention may also, if desired, be practiced to advantage using containers having a noncylindrical cross-section, as measured perpendicular to the container's vertical axis, e.g., elliptical cross-sections, rectangular cross-sections, etc.
  • Attachment 2100 comprises finish portion 2001 and closure 2002.
  • Finish portion 2001 and closure 2002 are preferably injection molded of polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or the like.
  • Finish portion 2001 comprises attachment ring 2004 and tab ring or annular collar 2005. While the annular collar shown in Figure 6 is generally cylindrical in cross-section, it can, if desired, be of other cross-sectional shapes, e.g., elliptical, etc., with the cantilevered pushtabs (described in detail hereinafter) located at the opposed ends of the ellipse's major axis.
  • Bead 2003 on attachment ring 2004 is used to secure attachment 2100 to a pharmaceutical package (not shown).
  • Tab collar 2005 is interrupted by slots 2006, thereby forming a pair of opposed cantilevered pushtabs 2007, as shown in Figure 7.
  • Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of attachment 2100 taken through section line I-I of Figure 6.
  • the closure securement ring includes first means for rotatably and releasably securing closure 2002 to finish portion 2001.
  • the first means comprises helical threads 2009 on the outermost surface of thread ring 2010.
  • the closure 2002 includes second means complementary to said first means for rotatably and releasably securing the closure to the closure securement ring.
  • the second means comprises threads 2018 on the innermost surface of thread collar 2017 on closure 2002.
  • any suitable releasable securement means e.g., a combination of lugs or screw threads
  • a combination of lugs or screw threads can be employed to rotatably and releasably secure closure 2002 onto finish portion 2001
  • complementary screw threads 2009 and 2018, respectively, as shown in Figure 7 are particularly preferred.
  • the threads 2009 on the exterior surface of thread ring 2010 are preferably double lead threads.
  • the pitch of complementary threads 2009 and 2018 is preferably such that closure 2002 is fully seated onto finish portion 2001 with approximately 180° of rotation.
  • the collar 2005, thread ring 2010, and attachment ring 2004 are preferably integrally molded and are generally concentric with one another.
  • the top of each spring-like pushtab 2007 has a vertical extension 2008 which projects above the plane of the top edge of tab collar 2005.
  • the vertical extensions 2008 interlock with pawls 2015 on the innermost surface of lock ring 2016 of closure 2002 when the closure 2002 is fully threaded onto finish portion 2001.
  • pawls 2015 During assembly of closure 2002 onto finish portion 2001, pawls 2015 must rotate past vertical extensions 2008. However, vertical extensions 2008 interfere with rotation of pawls 2015 and cause pushtabs 2007 to be resiliently deflected inwardly. Gradual lead-in ramps on pawls 2015 facilitate the deflection. In general it is preferred that the lead-in ramps exhibit a gradual inwardly directed taper so as to avoid a sudden increase in the reapplication torque required to fully seat the closure 2002 onto the finish portion 2001. If desired, the mating surfaces of vertical extensions 2008 may also be profiled, as generally shown in the cross-sections of Figures 7A and 8A, to minimize the reapplication torque required to fully seat the closure 2002 onto the finish portion 2001 of the attachment 2100. Both of these features help to ensure that the user will properly reapply the closure to restore child resistance to the package after the package has been opened.
  • closure 2002 causes pawls 2015 to clear the vertical extensions 2008, thereby permitting vertical extensions 2008 and pushtabs 2007 to resiliently return to the latched condition shown in Figures 7 and 7A.
  • the finish portion 2001 is molded so that the vertical extensions 2008 exhibit an unrestrained maximum exterior dimension which is somewhat greater than the inside diameter of the closure lock ring 2016. In this situation, application of closure 2002 to finish portion 2001 results in preloading of the vertical extensions 2008 against the interior surface of lock ring 2016 when the closure 2002 is fully seated, as shown in Figure 7A.
  • threads 2009 and 2018 in conjunction with vertical extensions 2008 and pawls 2015 is such that latching of pawls 2015 past vertical extensions 2008 occurs nearly simultaneously with the seating of closure 2002 onto finish portion 2001, at which point seal lip 2020 preferably engages finish taper 2025 to form a seal.
  • This is readily achievable, since the thread 2009 is integrally molded with the finish portion 2001 that includes the integrally formed pushtabs 2007, vertical extensions 2008 and finish taper 2025 while the thread 2018 is integrally formed with the closure 2002 which includes pawls 2015 and seal lip 2020.
  • Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view of attachment 2100 taken along section line II-II in Figure 6.
  • edges 2030 of vertical extensions 2008 impede counter-clockwise rotation of pawls 2015 preventing attempts to reopen the attachment by rotating the closure 2002 in the counter-clockwise direction indicated by the arrow "T".
  • Figure 8 is a view of attachment 2100 taken at a point corresponding to section line I-I of Figure 6, but with pushtabs 2007 deflected inwardly.
  • sufficient manual pressure must be applied to opposed pushtabs 2007 in the direction indicated by arrows "P" in Figure 8 such that the vertical extensions 2008 on pushtabs 2007 disengage the pawls 2015 on the innermost surface of lock ring 2016 of closure 2002.
  • the squeezing force required to depress pushtabs 2007 is preferably great enough to be difficult for a child, yet low enough that people using the medication, such as arthritics, can readily depress the opposing pushtabs 2007 while concurrently applying an unscrewing torque in the direction of arrow "T" in Figure 8A to the closure 2002.
  • the preferred squeezing force "P" for the pushtabs 2007 to provide child resistance without imposing undue difficulty for adults with impaired manual dexterity is believed to be within the range of about 0.5 pounds to about 5 pounds.
  • pushtabs 2007 are preferably substantially flush with the outermost surface of tab ring or collar 2005 when the closure 2002 is fully secured in place so that simply grasping the collar about its entire periphery and squeezing is unlikely to permit both of the vertical extensions 2008 on the opposed pushtabs 2007 to become inadvertently disengaged from pawls 2015 at the same time an unscrewing torque is being applied to the closure 2002. Rather, a conscious decision to squeeze the opposing pushtabs 2007 must be made by the user to initiate the opening process, and this must be accompanied by a concurrent application of unscrewing torque to the closure 2002 to proceed further. This minimizes the chance that a child will be able to remove closure 2002 simply by squeezing the entire periphery of tab collar 2005 in his or her hand while trying to unscrew closure 2002.
  • Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view of attachment 2100 taken at a point corresponding to section line II-II of Figure 6, but showing the attachment 2100 in the condition shown in Figure 8, i.e., with pushtabs 2007 deflected inwardly.
  • Vertical extensions 2008 are thus shifted to a position wherein edges 2030 no longer impede counter-clockwise rotation of pawls 2015 on lock ring 2016 in the direction indicated by the arrow "T".
  • the user of child resistant attachment 2100 is then able to further rotate closure 2002 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby causing the closure 2002 to rise above vertical extensions 2008 and release the engagement of threads 2009 and 2018 on thread ring 2010 and thread collar 2017, respectively. This permits closure 2002 to be completely removed from finish portion 2001.
  • Figure 9 is a partially segmented side elevation view of still another alternative embodiment 2500 of a child resistant attachment of the present invention.
  • finish portion 2501 of child resistant attachment 2500 is integrally molded as a single component with vial 2550.
  • Closure 2502 is shown unassembled from finish portion 2501 in Figure 9.
  • a portion of the tab collar 2505 is shown partially segmented to expose channel 2511 which accepts thread collar 2517 of closure 2502.
  • Tab ring or collar 2505 is interrupted by slots 2506 to form a pair of opposed cantilevered spring-like pushtabs 2507.
  • Pushtabs 2507 have vertical extensions 2508 which project above the plane of the upper surface of tab collar 2505.
  • Figure 9A shows a cross-sectional view of child resistant attachment 2500 and vial 2550 with closure 2502 in a fully assembled condition, said view be taken through the opposed pushtabs 2507.
  • the lowermost end of attachment ring 2504 is integrally molded to the uppermost end of vial 2550.
  • Vertical extensions 2508 interlock with pawls 2515 on the innermost surface of lock ring 2516.
  • the finish portion 2501 is molded so that the vertical extensions 2508 exhibit an unrestrained maximum exterior dimension which is somewhat greater than the inside diameter of the closure lock ring 2516.
  • operation of child resistant attachment 2500 is similar to that described for child resistant attachment 2100.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Liquid Developers In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Discharge Heating (AREA)
EP92919246A 1991-10-07 1992-08-27 Child-resistant package having preloaded locking mechanism Expired - Lifetime EP0606261B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US77272991A 1991-10-07 1991-10-07
US772729 1991-10-07
US88265992A 1992-05-13 1992-05-13
US882659 1992-05-13
PCT/US1992/007286 WO1993007071A1 (en) 1991-10-07 1992-08-27 Child-resistant package having preloaded locking mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0606261A1 EP0606261A1 (en) 1994-07-20
EP0606261B1 true EP0606261B1 (en) 1996-02-28

Family

ID=27118646

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92919246A Expired - Lifetime EP0606261B1 (en) 1991-10-07 1992-08-27 Child-resistant package having preloaded locking mechanism

Country Status (21)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0606261B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2815703B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN1034007C (ja)
AT (1) ATE134579T1 (ja)
AU (1) AU665962B2 (ja)
CA (1) CA2120713C (ja)
DE (1) DE69208676T2 (ja)
DK (1) DK0606261T3 (ja)
EG (1) EG19617A (ja)
ES (1) ES2083762T3 (ja)
GR (1) GR3019158T3 (ja)
HK (1) HK1006162A1 (ja)
MA (1) MA22636A1 (ja)
MX (1) MX9205009A (ja)
MY (1) MY110040A (ja)
NZ (1) NZ244156A (ja)
PT (1) PT8588U (ja)
SG (1) SG50464A1 (ja)
TR (1) TR27036A (ja)
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WO2009050457A1 (en) * 2007-10-16 2009-04-23 Cope Allman Jaycare Limited Closure

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US5230433A (en) * 1992-01-28 1993-07-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Adult friendly child-resistant attachment for containers used to store potentially dangerous materials
AU663044B3 (en) * 1993-10-13 1995-09-21 Nci Plastics (Vic.) Pty. Ltd. A container and a lid therefor
US5413233A (en) * 1994-08-30 1995-05-09 The Procter & Gamble Company Child resistant bottle closure
EP0751078B1 (en) * 1995-06-28 2001-11-14 The Procter & Gamble Company An adult friendly child-resistant package
DE69613453T2 (de) * 1995-12-21 2002-04-11 The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati Mit einem Zwischenstück versehene, kindergesicherte Verschlussvorrichtung für Behälter
EP0780318B1 (en) * 1995-12-21 2002-01-23 The Procter & Gamble Company An adult friendly child-resistant package
JP3670172B2 (ja) * 1999-08-31 2005-07-13 株式会社吉野工業所 安全キャップ付き容器
JP3670173B2 (ja) * 1999-08-31 2005-07-13 株式会社吉野工業所 安全キャップ付き容器
JP2002284255A (ja) * 2001-03-29 2002-10-03 Tiger Vacuum Bottle Co Ltd 飲料用保温容器
JP4568564B2 (ja) * 2004-09-08 2010-10-27 ジョンソン株式会社 キャップ具及びそのキャップ具に用いられる嵌合体
FR2892097B1 (fr) * 2005-10-14 2008-01-04 Thierry Claude Leon Garcia Couvercle a usages multiples, notamment pour des liquides, notamment pour pot de peinture.
DE102006015913A1 (de) * 2006-04-05 2007-10-11 Bernd Hansen Sicherheitseinrichtung für mindestens einen Behälter, insbesondere blasgeformten Kunststoffbehälter
BRPI0818204A2 (pt) * 2007-10-24 2016-06-14 Jin-Hee Ahn fecho de recipiente
CN102160844B (zh) * 2011-03-11 2012-11-07 成都理工大学 新型防潮药瓶
CN103315509B (zh) * 2013-06-08 2016-01-13 中山富士化工有限公司 一种防止儿童开启的香水瓶
CN105197393A (zh) * 2014-06-14 2015-12-30 杨永盛 一种锁紧药瓶
FR3035646B1 (fr) * 2015-04-28 2018-11-09 Nemera La Verpilliere Dispositif de fermeture securisee d’un recipient par vissage a languette escamotable.
CN113905827B (zh) 2019-03-26 2024-07-16 里克包装系统有限公司 用于锁定泵式分配器的防旋转塞式密封件

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GB1527812A (en) * 1977-05-16 1978-10-11 Nat Plastics Ltd Safety container
US4948002A (en) * 1988-12-29 1990-08-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Package exhibiting improved child resistance without significantly impeding access by adults
US5031784A (en) * 1990-03-30 1991-07-16 Wright Frank S One-piece child-resistant closure
US5230433A (en) * 1992-01-28 1993-07-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Adult friendly child-resistant attachment for containers used to store potentially dangerous materials

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009050457A1 (en) * 2007-10-16 2009-04-23 Cope Allman Jaycare Limited Closure
US8479935B2 (en) 2007-10-16 2013-07-09 Cope Allman Jaycare Limited Child resistant closure

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Publication number Publication date
CA2120713C (en) 1999-01-19
NZ244156A (en) 1995-08-28
ES2083762T3 (es) 1996-04-16
CN1071635A (zh) 1993-05-05
CA2120713A1 (en) 1993-04-15
HK1006162A1 (en) 1999-02-12
TR27036A (tr) 1994-10-10
MX9205009A (es) 1993-05-01
MA22636A1 (fr) 1993-04-01
PT8588U (pt) 1995-12-29
AU2547492A (en) 1993-05-03
DK0606261T3 (da) 1996-05-20
CN1034007C (zh) 1997-02-12
WO1993007071A1 (en) 1993-04-15
AU665962B2 (en) 1996-01-25
EP0606261A1 (en) 1994-07-20
TW217381B (ja) 1993-12-11
ATE134579T1 (de) 1996-03-15
MY110040A (en) 1997-11-29
EG19617A (en) 1995-07-27
GR3019158T3 (en) 1996-05-31
JP2815703B2 (ja) 1998-10-27
DE69208676T2 (de) 1996-10-02
JPH06511218A (ja) 1994-12-15
DE69208676D1 (de) 1996-04-04
SG50464A1 (en) 1998-07-20
PT8588T (pt) 1993-05-31

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